From Software has announced that Dark Souls 3 will be released in Japan on 24 March 2016, with release information for the West expected "in the coming days". The Japanese retail release also comes with a few bonus extras which could also be included around the world.

The March release date is for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, for which pre-orders will come with a specially-designed map and the game's official soundtrack. From Software also announced that a network test for the PS4 edition (in Japan) will be held on 16-18 October, with sign-ups available now on their website until 4 October.

Dark Souls 3 was announced during Microsoft's E3 press conference in June and is the first in the series to be developed soul-y for current gen systems. A remake of Dark Souls 2 was released on PS4 and Xbox One last year.

The game is likely to released in the West around the same time as Japan (based on the release schedule for Dark Souls 2) and would arrive roughly a year after From Software's Souls-inspired pseudo-follow-up, PS4 exclusive Bloodborne.

It appears – based on the thoughts of those who have played Souls 3 – that the game has taken some inspiration from the critically-lauded Bloodborne, but still retains its distinctive Dark Souls roots.